Abstract
OBJECTIVES:The intrathecal route has not yet been thoroughly standardized and evaluated in an experimental model of spinal cord injury (SCI) in Wistar rats. The objective of this study was to standardize and evaluate the effect of intradural injection in this animal model.METHOD:The animals were divided into 6 groups: 1) laminectomy and intradural catheter; 2) laminectomy, intradural catheter and infusion; 3) only SCI; 4) SCI and intradural catheter; 5) SCI, intradural catheter and infusion; and 6) control (laminectomy only). Motor evaluations were performed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scale and the horizontal ladder test; motor evoked potentials were measured for functional evaluation, and histological evaluation was performed as well. All experimental data underwent statistical analysis.RESULTS:Regarding motor evoked potentials, the groups with experimental SCI had worse results than those without, but neither dural puncture nor the injection of intrathecal solution aggravated the effects of isolated SCI. Regarding histology, adverse tissue effects were observed in animals with SCI. On average, the BBB scores had the same statistical behaviour as the horizontal ladder results, and at every evaluated timepoint, the groups without SCI presented scored significantly better than those with SCI (p<0.05). The difference in performance on motor tests between rats with and without experimental SCI persisted from the first to the last test.CONCLUSIONS:The present work standardizes the model of intradural injection in experimental SCI in rats. Intrathecal puncture and injection did not independently cause significant functional or histological changes.
Highlights
Spinal cord injury (SCI) originates from accidents or violence and mainly affects young adults
The present study aims to standardize the use of the intrathecal route (IR) in rats subjected to controlled experimental SCI
When the analyses found significant results, they were followed by multiple comparisons with the Bonferroni correction to identify the groups or timepoints between which the differences occurred
Summary
Spinal cord injury (SCI) originates from accidents or violence and mainly affects young adults. The incidence of SCI is usually less than 50 per million, the associated morbidity and mortality are costly, with hospital expenses of approximately US$95,000 resulting from initial hospitalization. There are generally important motor sequelae and loss of function, with 45% of the lesions being complete [1]. The estimated global incidence rate is 23/million inhabitants, with a prevalence between 236 and 4187/million inhabitants [2].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
